Improvement in firemen s hydraulic lifts



J. `RENWIC-K & J. A. ANDERSON.

FIREMANS HYDRAULIC LIFT.

N.178,56z. Patented June1s,1s7e.

jams [714 at d'.

JAMES RENwIOK AND JAMES A. ANDERSON, OF ALLEGHENY, ASSIGNORS To TEEMSELVES, JOHN I. WILLIAMS, OE MILLVALE BOROUGH, AND E. S. HANNA, OE PIfrrsBURe, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIREMENS HYDRAULIC LIFTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,562, dated J une 13, 1876; application filed February 26, 1876.

To all whom it may concern: Beit known that we, JAMES RENWIGK and JAMES A. ANDERSON, of Allegheny, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new and usef'ul 11nprovement in Firemans Hydraulic Lift; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specilcation, in which-like letters indicating like parts- Figure 1 shows our improved apparatus elevated and extended for use. Fig. 2l is a transverse longitudinal section of the extended hydraulic lift; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through one leg of the hydraulic lift, and through the truck and other appa ratus. Our hydraulic lift is designed chiefly for iremens use in reaching points or elevations otherwise impossible or difcult of access; also as a means of supplying and throwing water at and from such points and elevations; and also as a ire-escape. The apparatus is mounted on any suitable truck or carriage, A. The hydraulic lift proper consists of a series of pipes, B B1 B2 B3 B4 B5, in any desired number, (two or more in each leg constituting a series,) and arranged to form a double hydraulic column of hollow pipes, sliding one within another, like the sections of a telescope, and suitably packed at the joints. The lower sections B B1 are connected with the truck or carriage-frame by trunnions a, or in other equivalent manner, and have a water connecting-pipe, b, from one to the other, so that,

while being raised, the same water-pressure shall act in both legs. The water-supply and pressure are transmitted from a pump, fireplug, or other head through a hose, D, coupled at d, and are regulated by any suitable cock, as The opposite legs are connected and braced by cross-bars b1 b2, or in other suitable way. To the upper and Outer ends of the innermost sections B4 B5, or to the cross-bar which connects them, I attach the end of a rope, chain, or other fiexible ladder, P, so that as the sections are run out and extended, the

ladder will also be run up to the same elevation-bein g unwound off the drum c, on which it is wound again by a crank, c', when not in use. The sections are extended by waterpressure in the manner practiced in the art. The proper angle of elevation is secured by the use of a drum, c, windlass c1, and ropes or chains e2, or by other suitable known devices of like function.

The manner of using the apparatus, either for reaching points otherwise impossible or difficult of access, or as a tire-escape, will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, without a further detailed explanation. rlhe apparatus is, however, also designed for conveying and throwing water. When used for this purpose One'leg ot' the hydraulic lift is out oit' by a cock, g, after the desired extension has been attained, so that, by a retention of the water therein, the sections will be kept extended, and a hose, s, with a cock, s', to regulate the supply,) is connected to the other leg at its upper open end, or at any other desired point below. Such hose can then be carried along a roof or through a building, or otherwise used in throwing water, as may be desired, the water-supply and the pressure being kept up by the pump, or otherwise, through the hose D, and up the legs B1 B3 B5. When not in use, the apparatus is packed on the truck or carriage, as represented in Fig. 3, and transported from vplace to place. rllhe upper round or rung h of the ladder may represent a stand, on which a fireman may be carried up as the apparatus is extended, and the form or construction of such a stand may be varied at pleasure. The apparatus when in use may be steadied by guy-ropes, or in other known manner, if so preferred. The lower ends of the sections B B1 may, in order to be more securely supported, rest lon the ground when in use.

' We claim herein, as our invention- 1. A hydraulic-lift apparatus, consisting essentially of a double series of extensible hydraulic pipes, a water-supply thereto, a waterdischarge therefrom, and an interposed iexible ladder, substantially as set forth.

2. A hydraulic lift, consisting of a. double a supply-hose, D, and a discharge-hose, s, series of extensible pipes with suitable cocks substantially as set forth. and connections, whereby the Water in one `l'n testimony whereof-We have hereunto set leg or column may be confined, so as to keep our hands.

the column extended, While the Water is free JAMES RENWIOK. to be forced upward through the other, sub- JAMES A. ANDERSON. stantially as set forth. V i Witnesses:

3. A close Water-column, B B2,4&o., and zin HARRY J. SGHLUTZ,

open column, B1 B3, 85o., in combination with GLAUDIUS L. PARKER. 

